Paul and Linda Spencer, of Birkhouse Road, Brighouse, died when the machine came down at 4.30pm on Saturday by the Rudding Park Hotel, near Harrogate.

Police have issued this picture of Mr Spencer, 43, and Mrs Spencer, 59, who ran artificial flower wholesalers Country Baskets at East Ardsley. It shows the smiling couple at a family holiday home on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean.

One friend posted a website message from Spain, saying they were "one of the most worthwhile couples you could ever meet."

"They were kind, and generous to everyone they knew. They worked very hard and they lived life to the full and they shared their fortune with everyone without judging. The world will be a lesser place without them."

Michael Carr, who is married to Mrs Spencer's daughter Natalie, said it was a devastating tragedy and family members were meeting accident investigators and arranging the funerals.

"We just came back on Sunday and have a lot to sort out and we can't think of anything else," he said.

A statement was issued on behalf of the couple's relatives which described them as being hugely generous.

A neighbour said that the family had visited the crash scene and that Mr Carr was at the couple's home yesterday.

Gary Newburn said Mr Carr had told him he had spoken to a greenkeeper at the hotel who witnessed the crash. "The greenkeeper told him it went up and had a perfect flightpath," said Mr Newburn.

"For some unknown reason it came down straight out of the sky."

It crashed just 800 yards from the complex's helipad.

The Spencers, who started their business from scratch from a market stall in Halifax, were hugely successful and spent much of their time abroad as well as at their Rudding Park holiday lodge.

Mr Spencer qualified as a pilot and bought the helicopter at Christmas.

It was based at Leeds-Bradford Airport.

"They were a very quiet couple who were abroad a lot," said Mr Newburn, who lost his brother Tim in a helicopter crash in August.

"You would never see them in a pub. They were private people who enjoyed their home."

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch confirmed it was looking into the crash and was unable to say when that would be completed.
Police and air accident investigators yesterday cleared the crash debris.

Post-mortem examinations have been carried out and inquests into the deaths are expected to be opened and adjourned.

No one from Rudding Park was available to comment.